AtL Lancaster Stormers

Barnstormers Split Marathon Doubleheader

Published on August 1, 2018 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


The Lancaster Barnstormers and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs tangled for 23 innings and six hours, 46 minutes on Wednesday. By the end of it, each team could claim a win.

Stephen Johnson fired four innings of two-hit relief in the second game, pitching the Barnstormers to a 4-2 victory and the doubleheader split at Regency Furniture Stadium. Southern Maryland first baseman Devon Rodriguez finally put an end to the longest 'Stormers game in seven years with a one-out RBI double to right center in the bottom of the 16th inning of the opener.

The Barnstormers took charge of the second game with a three-run top of the fourth inning off David Wayne Russo (1-3). With one out, Darian Sandford ripped a double inside the third base bag and scored on a single to left by Tyler Bortnick, the second time the duo combined to produce a run in the game. Josh Bell reached on an error by third baseman Angelys Nina. Ryan Casteel singled to load the bases, and Jimmy Paredes ripped a two-run single one hop off the wall in left. Paredes was thrown out at second, and the Barnstormers never struck again.

Johnson, who took over from emergency starter Jonathan Albaladejo in the third, allowed only an unearned run in the fourth on the third of Teodoro Martinez' four hits in the game.

Garrett Granitz allowed a pair of singles in the bottom of the seventh but recovered to strike out Rodriguez and get Jon Griffin on a grounder to third to earn his first save.

In the opener, Rodrigeuz lined his double to right center following a one-out single by Edwin Garcia off Jared Lakind (1-3).

Prior to that the two clubs combined to lose four leads. Southern Maryland jumped ahead, 2-0, but the Barnstormers erased it with a three-run fourth inning that included an RBI double by Bell and RBI single by Grant Desme.

Nina doubled home a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth as the Blue Crabs surged back on top.

That, too, was erased. Sandford singled, advanced to second on a bunt, stole third and scored when Rodriguez made a wide throw to the plate on a Blake Gailen ground ball.

Then, the game stalled. At least until the ninth when Sandford and Rodriguez exchanged sacrifice flies.

For six straight innings, the Barnstormers produced one hit in each, with three of them doubles. Right-hander Chris Mazza pitched five shutout innings out of the pen for Southern Maryland. Kaleb Fleck gave Lancaster two scoreless frames, and Huascar Brazoban fired three.

Sam Runion (2-5) threw the top of the 16th to earn the win.

The series concludes on Thursday evening with Nate Reed (7-3) ticketed to go for Lancaster against Paul Clemens (1-6). Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, starting at 6:15.

NOTES: Albaladejo was pitching on his bullpen day...Bell tied a franchise record with three doubles in the first game...Grant Desme and Jimmy Paredes also had three hits in the opener...Sandford stole three bases in the doubleheader and has 51 on the year, becoming the second player in franchise history to swipe 50 or more in a season...Griffin had four hits in the opener and Teo Martinez had four hits in the nightcap...Casteel has hit safely in nine straight, tying his longest of the season...Lancaster's bullpen threw 15 1/3 innings, allowing three runs, two earned with one walk (intentional) and 14 strikeouts...The game was the longest (by innings) for the Barnstormers since June 25, 2011.

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Atlantic League Stories from August 1, 2018


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